‘[A] thoughtful and poignant exploration of language and identity.'
‘Charming and compassionate.’
‘This play truly deserves its Pulitzer.’
ABOUT THE SHOW
It’s 2008. In a small classroom in Iran, Marjan is teaching English.
Her group of adult learners each have their own relationship to this new language – for some it means opportunities abroad, for others a way to grow closer to grandchildren. Whatever their motives, these strangers find tensions flaring, connections forming and truths emerging as they hurtle towards their final exam.
From the imperfect conversations you’ll only hear in a language lesson to the humour of getting lost in translation, English follows a lovingly rendered ensemble of characters that will carve out a place in your heart as they learn what it means to express themselves.
Directed by Resident Director Tasnim Hossain (I Wanna Be Yours), and starring Salme Geransar (Mystery Road: Origin) and Osamah Sami (ABC’s Savage River), this is a story of falling in love with your own voice.
Accessibility
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Hearing Assistance
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Audio Described
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Tactile Tour
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Open Captioning
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Closed Captioning
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Auslan Interpreted
Performance Type | Performance Date(s) |
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Audio Described
by Vision Australia |
Saturday 10 August at 2pm Tuesday 13 August at 6.30pm |
Tactile Tour
at venue |
Saturday 10 August at 2pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm) |
Open Captioning
via screen |
Saturday 17 August at 2pm |
Closed Captioning
via GoTheatrical App |
Saturday 17 August at 2pm |
Auslan Interpreted
by Expression Australia |
Tuesday 20 August at 6.30pm |
Cast & Creatives
Maia Abbas
Elham
Delaram Ahmadi
Goli
Salme Geransar
Marjan
Marjan Mesbahi
Roya
Osamah Sami
Omid
Sanaz Toossi
Writer
Tasnim Hossain
Director
Kat Chan
Set & Costume Designer
Paul Lim
Lighting Designer
Hamed Sadeghi
Composer
Marco Cher-Gibard
Sound Designer
Ana Bayat
Persian Language Accent / Dialect Coach
Mark Wong
Voice & Text Coach
Afsaneh Torabi
Assistant Director
Giovanna Yate Gonzalez
Assistant Lighting Designer
Latest from Backstage
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Video
Meet Assistant Director Afsaneh Torabi
Afsaneh Torabi – one of our 2024 MinterEllison Future Directors – tells us what she's learnt from Director Tasnim Hossain that she will take into future rehearsal rooms.
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English trailer
Watch the video trailer for English ahead of seeing the production live on stage.
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Feature
Creating costumes for English
Set & Costume Designer Kat Chan on transporting audiences to Karaj in 2008 through costumes.
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Video
English | A game of word ball
Director Tasnim Hossain and the cast of English play a quick-fire ball game similar to the one in Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.
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Feature
Nina Sepahpour English theatre takeover
Learn more about illustrator Nina Sepahpour and her window designs at Southbank Theatre.
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Programme
English programme
Find out why the cast connected with the show, and read Director Tasnim Hossain's thoughts on this comedy full of truths in our immersive digital programme.
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Video
English | Tasnim Hossain Interview
Director of English Tasnim Hossain tells us why she loves the humour and warmth in this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy.